In California, Work Injuries are generally of two types. There are specific injuries and cumulative trauma injuries.
A specific injury is one which occurs as a single event. Examples of specific injuries are as follows:
- A warehouse worker injuring his/her back while lifting a box
- A pizza delivery injuring his/her neck in a car accident
- A factory worker suffering a chemical burns when a bottle of acid broke and the liquid got on his/her skin
- A bank teller sustaining a psychiatric injury from being involved in a bank robbery
A cumulative trauma injury is one that occurs over time. It can be from repetitive trauma or it could be as a result of continuous exposure:
- A police officer developing heart problems as a result of the stress of law enforcement duties
- A firefighter developing cancer as a result of exposure to carcinogens during the years of putting out fires
- A secretary developing carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of typing
- A factory worker suffering hearing loss from exposure to loud noises